POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Polk County jury has found a Davenport woman guilty of first-degree murder after a harrowing investigation revealed a pattern of severe physical abuse that ended the life of her four-year-old adoptive son.
Patricia Saintizaire was convicted of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated child abuse, and tampering with a witness. The conviction stems from the May 2, 2024, death of Bryan Boyer, who passed away while under her care.
The timeline of the tragedy began on May 1, 2024, when Bryan appeared to be in good health while attending school. The situation deteriorated rapidly later that evening. According to investigators, Saintizaire’s older son observed Bryan struggling just to sit up while trying to eat a meal.
A short time later, the four-year-old became completely unresponsive, prompting a rush to Orlando Health hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
During initial questioning by law enforcement, Saintizaire denied ever using physical discipline on the child. However, the investigation quickly uncovered evidence to the contrary. Authorities learned that Saintizaire had explicitly instructed her older son to lie to investigators about any mistreatment. When interviewed, the older brother disclosed to police that he had personally witnessed Saintizaire physically assault Bryan.
Further evidence was recovered directly from Saintizaire’s own cell phone, where investigators found two home surveillance videos recorded at the family’s Davenport residence. The footage directly documented the ongoing abuse. One video captured Saintizaire throwing the four-year-old into a swimming pool with his hands tied behind his back. A second video showed her striking the child on his back with an object while he lay on the floor.
An autopsy later confirmed the extent of the trauma. Medical examiners found a combination of old and recent scars stretching across Bryan’s back, arms, and legs, indicating a history of repeated physical abuse. Ultimately, the autopsy determined that the boy’s cause of death was a deep laceration to his liver.
Following the jury’s verdict, State Attorney Brian Haas released a statement regarding the team that secured the conviction, saying he “thanks Assistant State Attorney Mikaela Perry and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for seeking justice for the victim in this case.”
Saintizaire remains in custody and is scheduled to be formally sentenced on August 14, where she faces life in prison.
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